Median salary
$83,026
ANZSCO 2412 · Education professionals
Primary school teacher salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian primary school teacher is $83,026 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $65,670 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$65,670
Fortnightly
$2,526
Tax returns
193,294
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 2412, based on 193,294 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $83,152 | $83,026 | $86,166 |
| Average (mean) | $81,268 | $78,606 | $84,357 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $primary school teacher salary
| Gross salary (median) | $83,026 |
| Income tax | −$15,696 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,661 |
| Take-home pay | $65,670 |
| + Employer super | $9,963 |
See the $85,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $83,026 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Education professionals
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary school teacher | 168,400 | $94,085 |
| University lecturer or tutor | 70,637 | $85,457 |
| School teacher - type not specified | 34,017 | $71,789 |
| Pre-school or kindergarten teacher | 24,936 | $60,441 |
| TAFE teacher or tutor | 24,629 | $74,545 |
| Private teacher or tutor | 24,466 | $22,283 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a primary school teacher earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian primary school teacher in 2022-23 was $83,026, based on 193,294 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $78,606; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical primary school teacher.
What is a primary school teacher salary after tax?
On the median $83,026 salary for a primary school teacher, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $65,670 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $2,526 per fortnight or $1,263 per week.
How much tax does a primary school teacher pay?
On the median $83,026 salary, a primary school teacher in FY2025-26 pays about $17,356 in total tax — $15,696 income tax plus $1,661 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 20.9%.
How many people work as a primary school teacher in Australia?
193,294 Australians lodged a tax return as a primary school teacher in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 2412 on their return.
What is the average vs median primary school teacher salary?
Average (mean): $78,606. Median: $83,026. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical primary school teacher earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).